Pressure regulation



oct. 1, 1929. G CAMPBELL 1,729,819

PRES SURE REGULAT ION Filed June 4. 1924 z sheets-sheet 1 TTOR/VE YS.

Oct., l, 1929., G. CAMPBELL 1,729,811@

PRE S SURE REGULATION Filed June 4, 1924 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOH A TTORNEVS.

Patented Oct. `l, 1929' I UNITED' STATES GRANT CAMPBELL, or SHORT HILLS, :NEW JERSEY, assreuoaro CAMPBELL ENGI- PATENT ori-lcs NEERING COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW-JERSEY, A CORPQBATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PRESSURE I-EGULarIoN .application led June 41924. "Serial No. 717,849.

. This invention relates to pressure regulation, and includes a novel method for regulating pressure, or iiow, and a novel apparatus for thersame purpose, which may'in somecases be embod1ed 1n a unitary organim sure, low Ypressure or vacuum, .referring .either to the flow of liquids, or ofv elastic.

iluids,'exempliiied by gases (compressed air) or vapors (steam). .The` invention. is of .especial utility-where a constant or regulated pressure is desired to be delivered notwithstanding substantial iluctuations of the sup4 ply pressure or variations in the source of flow, or changes inthe duty or load to be met. The deliverypressur to be cont-rolled.

is not necessarily that of the HuidA itself, but

may be the resulting pressure of the operation of a pump, blower or the like. Specific 'uses of the. invention include the following. Controlling the steam or other, pressure in heating systems; controlling the feed of water to boilers, in Which'it may be desired forexample to? maintain the delivered press sure at the predetermined figure of 15 pounds above the boiler pressure; the control of air feed for purposes of combustion, for example, through a blower engine delivering to a furnace, forregulating or controlling l'the combustion or resulting steam pressure; and

the like.

The main object of the inventionis to secure more ecient and reliable regulation of pressure or 'How in the above or analogous fields of utility. Aspecitic object is to give betterfcontrol, orafford better uniformity, of delivered pressure notwithstanding substantial fluctuations of suppl pressure. Other and further objects and a vantages ofv the present invention will be explained in the hereinafter following description of vone or parent to those skilled in the art. To the attainment bf such objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel method yand apparatus for pressure regulation and the novel features of combination, arrangement and construction hereinillustrated or described.

Inthe accompanying drawings Fig. .lshows an illustrative form of the present 1nvention, embodying the apparatus features and available for practising thev method features'9 certain elements of the combination being shown in central cross section toavoid the necessity of separate views thereof.

2 is a view similar to Figui of a moditied form of apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a third embodiment or modification.

Fig. 4c shows a .novel valve construction which may be substituted for that shown'in Fig. 8 or other embodiments. v

Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment or eX- ample of the present invention.

, In one aspect. the essence of the present in- .vention may be stated toconsist in the regulation-of fluid pressure by adjusting the flow under the contr-ol of both the supply pressure and the delivery pressure.y In 'this way the delivery 'pressure is controlled not only by the conditions, at the delivery side of the control point, but' also by the conditions at the supply side. This combined control gives superior results. The instance may be taken Where the initial or supply 4pressure is liable tojjluctuate between and. 8O poundsper square inch, while it is desired to maintain a 'delivered pressure of about 30 pounds (29V to 31). Of 'course'predetermined variation or adjustment ofthe delivered pressure may sometimes bedesirable, and is attainable by.

adjustment vof .the action of the present in.-v

vention. A distinct difeulty 'in maintain-A ing the desired .or predetermined delivery secondary or delivery pressure only it may 'work' satisfactorily lso long as the primary or more embodiments ,thereof or will be .ap-

unreliable. This may be described as due tofthe fact lthat the necessary increase of flow, or vice versa, to maintain the desired delivery pressure will not be uniform if the ylOl) delivery pressure commences `to ldrop below, the-desired 30 pounds the. flowfwill-,be' insupply pressure varies substantially. With the present invention the flow,- or opening or closing of the valve, is controlled not only by the pressure drop or rise at the delivery end, but also by the pressurevariations at the supply end. Thus in the case stated, if the creased by control 'from the delivery/Send;

and if the supply lpressure drops toward'v pounds this is arranged to effect van increase of flow, .or opening of valve, in such manner servicef pipe 10 with its branches, and they delivery or secondary service pipe 11 with its' branches, and between them the pressure regulating means. (In this form' two sepathat the delivered. pressure may' be 'main- Ytained at the desired figure."

Referring particularly tothe-embodiment of Fig. '1 this shows thesupply orv primary.

rate .valves are shown andfeach of them 'may' be areducingvalve, for example csomewell knownty en'lfh'e reducing,` 'valve 12,'

controlled by t Ae low 'or delivery pressure, is shown as a balanced valve. with double seat and spring actuated. The valve -body 13 vhas inlet14 and outlet-15, with two valve seats 16 engaged by disks 17., the Atwo disks being on the same valve stem 18,;anarrangement by which the force of the. pressure 'or flow balances itself against -the two disks. rlhis enables the valve to beproperlycontrolled `througha' valve spring 19 snrrounding'the stem 18 and' a diaphragm 2O connected with the outer extremity ,of the stem. The diaphragm chamber 21fis connected by 'a control 'pipe22 withthe delivery pip-e 11. When the elastic iiuidj'is steam'it will be understood Y' .''that the lower pipe" 22, and the diaphragm steam, enabling the fuse 'of a rubber diaphragm.- With any decreaseof delivered chamber21`, ill up with water, which protects the diaphragm from thev action of pressure .the diaphragm 2Ol descends, thus .opening .the valve and supplying additional flow to restorel or maintainthe desiredprcsi' sure.

phragm 32, t echamber 33 of which is connecte by control pipe 34 with the supply pipe'l.-

vWith this arrangement. any material decrease in supplypressure will cause the openingof valve 24, giving an increased liow.

` readily calculated and adjusted to offset subf` stantially the loss of flow 'in valve 12 duc to drop'y of supply pressure, and vice versa. In other words the valve 24 offsets `the difficulties arising from variations ot supply pres- 'sure,'and enables the valve l2 accurately to control the-delivered pressure against variations therein. The action may be described as increasing the fluid iiow correctively upon a decrease 0I' either .the supply pressure orthe delivery pressure and vice versa, thereby aty tainingoneof the main objects ofthe present invention. Y Y

- It will be. understood that the'particular embodiment isonly illustrative andthat the principles ymay be vemployed with endless variety of embodiments.v rThe valveqform andconnection's shown arev not intended as limitations. The ill'ustrated --form of diaphragm may be lreplaced byl a perforated diaphragm having connections with both ends of the system. Indeed the diaphragm may be replaced by a piston or any other movable pressure-sensitive element. In usL --ing the Word diaphragm it will be -understood. lthat* any equivalent pressure 'responsive control device susceptible to iuctuations of pressure is intended to be included.

Fig. '2 shows an embodiment in whichth'e is obviated, thev entire valve mechanism 36 involving vonly a' single structure.- The valve body 37 has inlet 38 and outlet 39. Secondary-pressure con-trol is afforded by means of valve s eat 40, engaged by disk 41, mounted on stemv 42,.eXt en-ding to diaphragm 43, connected" by control pipe 44 with the delivery pipe 11,4 4Primary-pressure control is ci? ',fected through valve seat 45, engaged by disk .'46, the stem 47 of which extends to" diaphragm 48, connected by control pipe 49 with. the primary pipe or conduit 10. De-

crease 'of delivered pressure separates valve disk '4l from seat 40, increasing flow,`while decrease' of primary-pressure causes the separating of disk 46 from seat 45, thus giving. increased flow, oiisettin'g. the decrease or primary-pressure; and vice versa.. It will be, understood that the adjustment of the vprin]ary-pressure controldevice or valve is to .besuch as to bring the secondarypressure nearly, but. not entirely, up to the desired pressure, this act-ion being supplemented by the secondary-pressure control, insuring the exact desired secondary-pressure.

yFig. 3 shows anembodiment-in which only va single valve -seat and disk are shown, and

with vdifferent types or4 valve mechanism, and other rrlodiications.I The fcombined valve structure 50 comprises the valve body 51 having inlet and outlet ports 52 and '53, with 'avalve seat 54 engaged by diskr55, the stem .56. of which extends to a diaphragm 57 which, in this case, may be of rubber. The diaphragm has an exterior stud or projection '58v on whichinward pressure ismaintained through toggle link 59loperated by levers 'branched or by-pass arrangement of-Fig. 1

60 and-a spring 61 .on a transverse stem 62.

Cil

The connection from the secondary-pressure may be from the interior of the .valve casing through passage 63 into a chamber 64 surrounding the stem 56, `and passages 65v from that chamber into the diaphragm cham.- ber 66. y delivered pressure permits the spring 61 to elevatethe diaphragm, thus raising the valve disk away from its seat. v

In this embodiment thevalve seat 54 1s movable, sliding in a cylindrical portion 68 of theyvalve body. The entire 'flow fromsu'pply to delivery side is between the valve .f seat 54 and disk.55. The flow is increased ycase should be of metal if steam is being handled, on account of the direct contact of the steam with the diaphragm. The exterior stud 71 on the diaphragm cooperates with the' toggle links 72 and levers 7 3 in Vsuch manner that the pressure of springs 74 is constantly applied through stem 75 and the toggle t0 thrust the diaphragm inward. By this arrangement decrease ofprimary-pressure al-v` lows the diaphragm to move inward, thus loweringthe valve seat 54 and increasing the flow, with the results already described.

The modification' shown in Fig-3 has been made the subject of a divisional application,

; Serial No.'119,346, led June 29, 1926, and the claims to the features thereof have been transferred to the divisional application: and this statement refers also to the features illustrated in Fig. 4 hereof. y

Fig. 4 shows a valve seat and disk structure that may advantageously be used in'place of4 that shown in Fig. 3. The valve seat 77 may have a yoked stem 69l as before. and may slide in the sleeve or bearing 68. The seat has its 1 conical surface 78 corresponding with the conical body 81`is also formed with a plu-- rality of guiding fins 82 engaging thel cylindrical surface 79 of the seat to maintain the valve disk central. This form of valve is of advantage for the' general purposes of the present invention and is considered to be novel per se for various uses. It gives better differ-` ential pressure regulation; the longer movement of adjustment between the closed position of the valve and its maximum open position affords closer and more accurate regulation.1 It is well known that a flat disk gives its maximum opening when it has receded about one quarter of the diameter of the open- By `this arrangement decrease of vthe sleeve type of valve. 'casing 85 has inlet l86 and outlet" 87, with a cylindrical bearing 88. This bearing is ening. With the described `structure the increase of flow is progressive through a far longer range of movement, so that the iiow regulation is more gradual and accurate.

As the conicaldisk lifts it increases'the annular space Within the seat, which does not reuire to be conical as shown, and the f iow is nely controlled from maximum to minimum.

Fig. 5 shows a modicat'ion 84 employing The valve body or gaged by an outer valve `sleeve 89 having a stop flange '90 to engage the bearing, and having ports-91 which may'fbe of key-hole shape, or other form to give `a liner regulation of How', with gradual, progressive opening or closing, such as a series of openin uncovered successively. Theinner valve s eeve 92 has" a stop iiange 93, and .opposite ports 94 cooperating with the ports 91. "By having such plural ports the pressure is balanced. The

inner sleeve 92 may' have lower openings 95 leading to the valve outletv 87. `The sleeve may be connected directly or by astem to a diaphragm 96. The diaphragms hereof may be composed of rubber if it be assumed' that compressed air is'being handled, thi-s construction'being well adapted for air pressure control. lMetal diaphragms may be substituted, with proper modification of shape.

The diaphragm 96 is pressed inwardly by a spring 97 having la regulating screw 98 mounted in a yoke bracket 99. By'this regu-- lation the action ofthe valve can be controlled. l The 'outer valve sleeve' 89 is shown directly connected to diaphragm 101,'pressed inwardly bysprinjg- 102, having regulating screw 103 supported in a bracket 104. When the delivered pressure decreases the diaphragm 96 is allowed to rise, thus uncovering more of the key-holeport 91 ,and increasing a1r iow; and' this-also lowers. the other diaphragm, and sleeve 89, the low pressure worklng both waysthediaphragm 101 serving, at its middle, for low pressure, at its rim for high' pressure, control.

and thus opening the valve ports to a greater extent. This structure is compact and selfcontained; also .easily regulated and sensitive in its control, due to the double action of the low or delivery pressure, on the two diaphragms.

' While the specific embodiments show regulation of ressure and How by contrl fromlloo When the primary-pressure decreases the diaphragm 101 moves downwardly, carrying the sleeve 89 thermostatic control, 'or temperature sensitive element. The present invention possesses utility also in a case Where the control 'is reversed in action, i, e., Wherea drop Vof supply pressure may be caused'to shut oil' somewhat the valve port and flow.

fRe'ei-ring further to the modicati'on of Fig. 5 it vvill be vseen lthat the upper diaphragm, with its separated areas, acted on ,partly'by supply pressure, partly by delivery pressure, constitutes a'device in itself capable of the double control'of this invention, and thelower diaphragm and .connected parts could be dispensed With by proper propor- 'tioning of the upperdiaphragm and connected parts. 1

It Will thus be seen that I have desci'ibed several embodiments of the underlyingprin? from the supply pressure to move one only oi said valve parts to retrict the iow from the'supply passage to the delivery passage upon increase of supply pressure and v1ce versa.l to give an approximate adjustment of delivery pressure, and a second pressure sensitive lneans operated romvthe delivery pressure to move the other only of said valve parts to restrict the flow from the supply p asi sage to the delivery passage upon increase of supplemental finer adjustment of the de ivery pressure.

2. Apparatus for regulating the delivery pressure of fluids comprising valve means having a port normally open from the supply side to the delivery side thereof, a plurality of movable valve parts each adapted to adj ust said port, pressure sensitive means operated from the supply pressure to move one of said valve parts to restrict the port upon increase of supply pressure and vice versa,-

and pressure sensitive means operated from the delivery pressure to move the other of said valve vparts to restrictl the port upon increase of delivery pressure and vice versa.

3. Apparatus for regulating the delivery pressure of fluids comprising a ported valve normally open from the supply side to the delivery side thereof, a plurality of valve parts movable one upon the other and each adapted to restrict regulably the valve port,

lsignature hereto. delivery pressure and vice versa, to 'give a .Y

insegna pressure sensitive 'means operated from the supply pressure to move one of said valve parts to restrictthe port upon increase of supply pressure and vice versa, and pressure sensitive mean operated from the delivery pressure to move the other of said valve parts to restrict the port upon increase of delivery and vice versa.

4. Apparatus ,for regulating the pressure of fluids comprising a valve containing a bearing, aholloW sleeve sliding therein and a second hollow sleeve sliding in the irst, communicating ports in the sleeves, pressure responsive means for controlling one sleeve from the supply side, and means'for controlling the other sleeve from the delivery side.

5. Apparatus rfor regulating the pressure 'of fluids comprising a valve device, a pressure sensitive element controlling said valve device and having separated control areas, luidfconnections from the supply side to portions of the element and :duid connections from the delivery side to other portions of the `element whereby the element and valve device are operated by pressure variations at either or both sides.

(i. Apparatus as in claim 5 and wherein the annular peripheral portion of the element is operated upon by the supply pressure and the central portion 'of the element by thedelivery pressure, in such manner that drop in 4either pressure opens the valve device.

4'4'. Apparatus for regulating the pressure of fluids comprising a valve containing a bearing, a ported member sliding on the bearing, and a second ported member sliding on the lirst, two pressure responsive devices both operated upon by the delivery pressure and connected to move said ported members in opposite directions upon change of delivery pressure. i

In testimony whereof, I have ai'ixed my GRNT CAMPBELL. 

